HI R

On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:35:48 +0100, "R" wrote:


"Adrian" wrote in message
.. .
Hi All

Sort of off topic - but along similar lines......
and you all seem to know what you're talking about..... g

Does anybody know what alternatives might exist to the conventional
'Sodastream' refill bottles.

We rather like a drop of fizzy water - and, back in the UK, it was
fairly easy to get refilled CO2 bottles.

However, out here in the wilds of West Cork (Ireland) - we're faced
with a 1.5hour journey into Cork city to swap out our Sodastream
bottles. OK - so we have a few 'spares' - so we only have to do the
journey every coule of months - but it's a journey that we wouldn't
otherwise do...

So - possible thoughts included

a) Buy / rent / whatever a bigger CO2 bottle (?pub supply?) and the
necessary 'pipery' to dump small doses of CO2 liquid into the
Sodastream bottles ourselves.
Not sure how practical or safe this might be.....

b) Maybe the 'pipery' exists to feed the Sodastream dinks maker
directly from a bigger gas bottle.....?

How does the big CO2 bottle thing work - do you buy one or maybe hire
it....?

Just wondering if anybody's been down this path before, or could make
any suggestions...

Many thanks
Adrian

Adrian,

The issue with the Sodastream using larger bottles is one of pressure
release at the correct time.
The lever/button on mine ( Fizz on line model ) depresses the centre valve
on the bottle to allow gas through.
With a direct connection to the unit you would need some form of valve that
operates in conjunction with the button being pressed.

OK - understand

Now, since we are thinking along the same lines, you could ask a friendly
local engineering shop to thread the base of the existing bottle and add a
suitable connector for a feed from a larger "Pb" sized one.
Alternatively a side mounted adapter would work if welded on.
Also if you can remove the top valve you could possibly have a tail attached
to allow connection to a larger bottle.

Ah - I see where you're going with this...


The Sodastream website http://tinyurl.com/2393or suggests

"Our new large and extra large Alco2Jet aluminium cylinders work only with
our certain drinksmakers. See below if your drinksmaker is compatible. If
not, call our customer care centre about our upgrade offers: 0800 085 8373"
so you can have delivery direct.

Yes - but not Ireland.
Frankly - I've found Sodastream Customer Care to about as much use as
whatsits on a bull..... totally clueless......

Last time I asked them they couldn't tell me very much about anything.
So I phoned Tesco, who were equally clueless - claimed that there were
no replacement bottles in Ireland at all....

......then I phoned one of the Cork branches of Tesco who had large
stocks of the things - but it's just a pain to travel to Cork only to
get the cylinders exchanged...

Any thoughts about refilling the Sodastream cylinders from a larger
CO2 bottle ?? Wonder if that's feasible / safe / worth doing ??

Thanks
Adrian